Thermal-pressure splint



United States Patent [54] THERMAL-PRESSURE SPLINT 8 Claims, 4 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. l28/82.l,

128/87, 128/402, ISO/2.4, ISO/2.5, ISO/2.6 [51] Int. Cl. A6ll'5/04 [50]Field ofSearch l28/82.l,

so References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,562,121 7/ l 951 Poux128/402UX 3,171,410 3/1965 Towle et al. 128/157UX Primary Examiner-L. W.Trapp Attorney-Baldwin, Egan, Walling and Fetzer ABSTRACT: A splint forapplication to an injured human limb or human body portion in which atherapeutic material is carried in a sealed compartment and appliedunder suitable fluid pressure, such as by means of air pressure, againstthe injured limb and/or body part. The splint includes a fluidtightchamber into which a therapeutic material is deposited such as amaterial to create heat and/or cold and a second chamber into which apressure fluid may be inserted such as, for example, air. The splint isplaced over the injured human limb and/or body part in such manner thatthe chamber containing the therapeutic material overlies the injuredportion. The pressure exerted by the pressure fluid chamber is directedagainst the therapeutic chamber so as to urge said therapeutic chamberunder pressure against the injured body part so as to enable the thermalcondition generated by the material therein to be exerted against thesaid injured part. The overlying and surrounding pressure fluid chamberof the splint is also positioned to surround the injured human limb orbody part and provides temporary immobility to the said injured bodypart so as to prevent any further aggravation of the injury thereto.

This invention relates generally to body splints and more particularlyto a thermal-pressure body splint which is especially designed to exerta thermal condition such as heat and/or cold under pressure against aninjured human limb and/or other body part.

THERMAL-PRESSURE SPLINT Another object of the present invention is toprovide a new and improved body splint specially designed to provide fora temporary application of thermal therapy to an injured portion of thebody such as a human limb, the application of such thermal therapy beingaccomplished under pressure suitable to enable the thermal therapy to beapplied directly to the injured body portion while also enabling theinjured body part to be temporarily substantially immobilized to preventfurther aggravation thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedthermal body splint especially designed for the application to aninjured human limb and/or other body part whereby to provide for theapplication of thermal therapy to the injured body part under a suitablemagnitude of pressure which may be temporarily applied so as to enablethe injured body part to be readily accessible for more detailed medicaltreatment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedthermal-pressure body splint which may be reusable over an extendedperiod of time and for the application to several areas of the humanbody.

Additional objects and advantages of the thermal-pressure splint of thepresent invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which itpertains and upon reference to the following disclosure of severalpreferredembodiments thereof and which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of thermal-pressure splint ofthe present invention showing the same in its open position in whichtherapeutic material may be readily deposited therein;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 as shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional taken through a human limb, such as anarm, and showing the thermal-pressure splint of FIG. 1 in its operativeposition thereon; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a human hand with a second embodiment ofthermal-pressure splint of the present invention shown placed over thewrist portion of the arm representing the injured part thereof andshowingthe splint in sectional view to more readily illustrate itsinternal construction.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermalpressure splintof the present invention is identified in its entirety by the referencenumeral 4 and is seen to be generally rectangular in overallconfiguration-as disposed in its open condition as shown particularly inFIG. 1.

The splint 4 consists of two rectangular sheets of flexible materialsuch as vinyl and which are identified as a bottom sheet 9 and a topsheet 10. The bottom and top sheets 9 and 10 are sealed together abouttheir periphery as is indicated at 12 to thereby form a substantiallyairtight chamber as identified in FIG. 2 by the reference numeral 14.

A fluidtight chamber as identified in its entirety by the referencenumeral 17 is formed within the splint 4 and comprises a circularpartition wall 19 disposed within the airtight chamber 14 being sealedto the bottom and top sheets 9 and 10 as is particularly shown at 20 inFIG. 2.

A reclosable plug 21 is shown attached to the top sheet 10, the latterbeing apertured as at 22 to thus provide access to the chamber 17 asthus formed. As shown in FIG. 2, the plug 21 is in its closed or sealedposition, thus sealing the chamber 17 from atmosphere and to preventleakage of the therapeutic material therefrom. The plug 21 is adapted tobe pulled to its open position to thereby enable therapeutic materialssuch as those creating heat and/or cold tobe deposited in theaforementioned chamber 17.

A suitable reclosable air valve 25, as seen in FIG. 1, is mounted on thetop sheet 10 and communicates with the air chamber 14. Any suitablepressure fluid such as air is intended to be introduced into the chamber14 to thereby form a balloonlike expansion of the chamber effective toexert pressure onto adjoining areas or surfaces.

The splint 4, as seen in FIG. 1, is generally rectangular and issomewhat similar to the form taken by the well known wrap type ofpressure bag used for measuring blood pressure.

In use, therapeutic material is placed into the chamber 17 through theplug 21 and the latter is then closed. Therapeutic materials which havebeen actually used to create cold are ice cubes, crushed ice, industrialprilled ammonium nitrate plus water whereas hot water has been used tocreate heat, other heat creating chemicals also being well known. As nowknown in the art, for sprained limbs, the application of cold materialto the injured limb should be used to slow circulation which aids inpreventing further swelling of said limb.

Assuming that a sprain has occurred to a person's arm, for example, andwith reference to FIG. 3, a cold producing material is disposed in thechamber 17 and the chamber is then closed.

The splint 4 is then placed over the injured limb so that the chamber 17lies over the sprain area. The splint 4 is then wrapped around the armover the chamber 17 and the end portion 30 thereof, which may have anysuitable securement means such as a strip of Velcro material attachedthereto as indicated at 32 and which is engageable with a companionVelcro strip 33 disposed on the top sheet 10, is locked in placetherebetween.

Air or any other suitable pressure fluid is then introduced throughvalve 25 sufficient to inflate the chamber 14 whereby the material inchamber 17 is forced against the injured area to effect maximumtherapeutic action by said thermomaterial in said chamber 17. The valve25 may be any suitable type which permits air or other fluid pressure tobe introduced and captured within the chamber 14. The pressure need notbe more than the magnitude obtainable by a human merely blowing throughsaid valve, after which the valve may be closable by hand.

When the therapeutic material has become exhausted, the valve 25 may beopened to release the pressure fluid from chamber 14 and the splint 4may then be removed from the injured limb.

Thereafter, the material may be removed from chamber 17 and if desiredreplaced and the splint then reapplied to said limb.

Another embodiment of splint incorporating the present invention isshown in its entirety in FIG. 4 by the reference numeral40.

As herein shown splint 40 comprises'basically a cylindrical tube withina tube construction, being formed of three layers or sheets of material,as for example vinyl, identified at 43, 44, 45.

The pair of layers 43 and 44 and likewise the pair of layers 44 and 45are spaced apart by end walls 47, 48 to form an inner generallycylindrical chamber 50 and an outer generally cylindrical chamber 51which encircles the said inner chamber.

The layer 44 is provided with a reclosable plug 60 which thuscommunicates with inner chamber 50. In like manner layer 45 is providedwith a reclosable valve 62 which communicates with outer chamber 51.

In use, the splint may be placed over the injured limb, for example asprained wrist, and thermomaterial is then introduced through plug 60into inner chamber 50.

Air or other suitable pressure fluidmay then be introduced into theouter chamber 51 whereby pressure is exerted against the therapeuticmaterial in the inner chamber 50 to cause it to press against theinjured limb to thereby effect maximum therapeutic results therefrom.

As will also be now realized, the splint of the present invention asshown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4 is also capable when in place on theinjured limb to at least partially immobilize the same so as to preventfurther aggravation to the injury caused thereto.

Having thus described several preferred embodiments of the presentinvention it will be understood that the same is susceptible to variousmodifications, arrangements and combinations of parts as are defined inthe following claims.

We claim:

1. A thermopressure splint for therapeutic application to an injuredhuman limb or the like comprising a body having a first chamber defininga fluid retaining pouch into which therapeutic material may be disposed,a second chamber in said body, said splint being adapted to be disposedover the injured limb to place the first chamber over the area of theinjured limb, means in said second chamber for permitting pressure fluidto be introduced therein whereby said second chamber is inflatedsufficiently to forcethe first chamber in pressure engagement with thearea of the injured limb.

2. A thermopressure splint as is defined in claim 1 and wherein thefirst chamber is substantially fluid tight and is provided withreclosable plug means to permit the disposition of therapeutic materialtherein.

3. A thermopressure splint as is defined in claim 1 and wherein themeans in said second chamber is valve means to permit the introductionof pressure fluid into said second chamber.

4. A thermopressure splint as is defined in claim 1 and wherein the bodyis formed to be placed over the injured limb and at least partiallywrapped therearound.

5. A thermopressure splint as is defined in claim 1 and wherein the bodyis generally rectangular and formed to be at least partially wrappedaround the injured limb with the first chamber directly over the injuredarea of the limb and the second chamber disposed as to press the firstchamber into engagement with said area.

6. A thermopressure splint as is defined in claim 1 and wherein the bodyis substantially cylindrical being formed of a tube within a tubeconstruction.

7. A thermopressure splint as is defined in claim 6 and wherein theinnermost tube is provided with means to introduce therapeutic materialtherein.

8. A thermopressure splint as is defined in claim 6 and wherein theoutermost tube is provided with means to introduce pressure fluidtherein.

